Welding apparatus



Jan. 19, 1937.

` P. E. DODGE 2,068,166

WELDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7o um 30 jwog 69 J0 36 /oa 65' 52,09 //0 l l\| l) /07 .9 l 49 l; l-

i) l/aa /60 /06 /40 9 F pi M 2,7 X4' ,1; /59 44/ Aorney.

Jan. 19, 1937. P. E. DODGE 2,068,166

WELDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. -28, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful lmprovement in a cutting and welding apparatus in which a thermal metal Working tool, such as a cutting torch or a welding head, is used and directed, in its use, to travel over a defined course on the work-piece and the present application in part forms a continuation of my application, Serial No. 593,468, led February 17, 1932, since matured into Patent No. 1,978,042, dated October 23, 1934.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in an apparatus of this kind, a means for raising and lowering the welding head together with a flexible wire guide and particularly in effecting this raisingand lowering action by means of a rheostat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mounting whereby the entire mechanism may be raised and lowered as a unit so as to accommodate the mechanism for use on worlr-` pieces of various heights.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an apparatus of this class, of a means of raising and lowering the wire guide tube automatically as the tool passes over the surface of the work-piece.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this kind of a flexible wire feed.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an apparatus of this class of a tracing wheel attachment which may be easily and quickly mounted on the device for tracing purposes.

Another object of the inventionA is the provision in an apparatus of this class, of a mechanism whereby the Wire guide may be set at any desired degree of angularity of any work and the tool used directly centered relatively to the tube carrying the Wire guide.

Another object of the invention is the provision in an apparatus of this class of means for adjusting the position of the quadrant which supports the tube.

Another object of the invention is the provision of feed rollers formed from yieldable material which will permit the rollers to accommodate themselves to variations in the surface of the templet on the guide piece on which they operate.

Another object of the invention is through the provision of yieldable feed rollers to eliminate chattering of the -wire feed.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention with a part removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view with a part broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view with a part broken away.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the feed rollers.

Fig. '7 is a view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. l.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 2, slightly enlarged.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a tracing wheel attached.

Fig. ll is a view of Fig. l0 taken at right angles with a part shown in section.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view taken on line it-ti of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 53-@3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. lll is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the end of the adjusting screw illustrated in Fig. 12.

The invention comprises a base embodying channel-shaped side rails 2li and 26 connected at opposite ends by similar members 29, secured to which and projecting outwardly from the base thereof are plates 36 and 3l. Secured to this bed or frame and projecting upwardly therefrom in rigid relation thereto at the corners thereof, are the supporting standards or posts 32, 33, 34, and 35. Extending transversely of the frame in opposite sides thereof are the plates 36 and 3l which are mounted on the sleeves 38 and 3B. Each of these sleeves embraces one of the posts in clamping relation and is provided with a suitable clamping arm 46. The sleeve 38 is connected by the channel iron 39 to the auxiliary sleeve 40 and the sleeve 38' is similarly connected to the auxiliary sleeve 40 by the channel or bar 39. These sleeves 40 and 40' serve as guide sleeves to prevent cramping of the sleeves 38 and 38' on the posts 34 and 32 respectively. The plate 36 is similarly mounted on posts 33 and. 35. Mounted on the sleeve 9| is a tubular nut 4I, and a. similar nut 4|' is mounted on the sleeve 98'. 'Ihe same arrangement prevails for the sleeves which are mounted on the posts 33 and 95. Threaded through the nut 4| is the screw rod 42 which is Journalled at one end in the bearing 43 carried on the upper end of the post 34. A similar screw rod 42' is threaded through the nut 4|' and journalled at its end in the bearing 43' mounted on the post I2. Similar nuts are carried by the sleeves onthe posts 33 and 85. Carried by these sleeves 38 and 38' are supporting arms 44 which project outwardly and serve to support the bed or table 45. The plates 36 and 31 serve to form with the rails 41 and 49, tracks in which engage and ride rollers 59 and 5|. These rollers are mounted on the Shafts 53 which project at opposite sides through the cross heads 52 and 54. These cross heads are connected intermediate their ends by the spaced track forming channel-shaped members 55 and 56. These tracks 55 and 56 support at their lower ends the wear plates or ribs 51 and 58 on which ride the rollers` 59 and 69, the roller 69 being provided with the V groove 6| on its periphery. These rollers are fixedly mounted on the shaft 62 which is journalled in the ybearings 63 carried by the 'sleeve 64. This sleeve 64 is formed on and supported by the tube 65 through which extends the shaft 66. As clearly appears in Fig. 2 therel are two sets of rollers 59 and 69, one at each end of the tube 65.

The shaft 66 extends into a housing 61 and carries on its inner end a bevel gear 68. Mounted on the housing 61 is a gear housing 69 which supports an electric motor 19. A pulley 1| driven by this motor serves, through the belt 12, to drive the pulley 13 which is mounted on the shaft 14 which extends into the housing 69 and serves, through a proper gearing, to drive the shaft 15. This shaft 15 carries a bevel gear 16 which meshes with the gear 11 and serves to rotate the same. The gear 11 is flxedly mounted on the shaft 18 which extends through the sleeve housing 19 and is journalled in bearings 89 and 9|. This sleeve housing 19 is mounted on, and preferably formed integral with the housing 82. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 19 within the housing is a bevel gear 89 meshing with the link gear 84 oi' a differential construction which serves through the intermediary oi' the gears 85, 86, 81, 88, 89, 99, 9|, 92, 93, and 94 to rotate the holding tubes 95 and 96.

A sleeve 91 is formed on the housing 82 and projects outwardly from the end of the housing 61. Fixedly mounted by means of the screw 99 on this sleeve is a cup-shaped retainer 98. Rotatably mounted on this cup-shaped retainer and projecting thereinto are shafts |9| and |92 each of which is projected into one of the sleeves 95 or 96 and rotatable in unison therewith by means of a key and slot arrangement. Mounted on each of the shafts |9| and |92 is a feed roller. This feed roller comprises a pair of disks or collars |93 and |94 between which is positioned the layer |95 of rubber or other suitable yieldable material. 'I'hese rollers are adapted to engage opposite faces of the templet or guide plate |96 which is mounted on the table 45.

It is believed obvious that when the motor 19 is set to operation, the rollers will be rotated to serve as ,means for causing the housing 61 and 'associated parts to travel through the .gral with the motor housing II2.

mountings of the carriage which comprises the heads 52 and 54 and the tracks 5,5 and 56 on the transversely extending tracks, a transverse movement of the carriage becomes possible. Through the mounting ol the tube 65 and its associated parts on the tracks 55 and 56 a longitudinal movement of the mechanism is possible. 'Through this mounting the mechanism driven by the rollers will travel along the templet |96 l so as to carry with it the metal working tool.

Due to the formation of the rollers from yieldable material projections and imperfections on the templet |96 will be compensated for a smooth operation and a chattering or vibration in the working tool eliminated. Furthermore, the operation of the mechanism is rendered less noisy.- The slight flattening of the rollers will also tend to prevent any rotation of the housing 82 except that rotation which is determined by the templet |96.

The shaft 66 also projects into a housing |91 and positioned within this housing and iixedly mounted on the shaft 66 is a bevel gear I|9 meshing with a bevel gear |98 xeclly mounted on the tube |99. This tube |99 projects through the housing |91 and is axially fixed relatively to the housing |91. Fixedly mounted on the tube |99 is a housing which is formed inte- Extending through the passageway formed in the tube |99 are wires H3, H4, and.||5 which are connected to the rheostat terminals ||6 mounted on the disk ||1 and also to the contact arm |I9 which is adapted to contact with these terminals ||6 and which is pivotally mounted at |29 in such a manner that the motor ||2 may be controlled by a. rocking of the arm ||9 through the medium of the rod I2| and the rockably mounted lever |22 which is pivotally mounted on the lower end of the arm |22 which projects downwardly from the enclosing casing H8. A roller |23 is carried on one end of the lever |22 and al spring |24 serves to maintain the roller |23 in contact with the surface over which it is passed. Driven by the shaft |26' of the motor ||2 is a gear |26 which is internally threaded and through which projects a tube |21 which is threaded at its upper end with the threads |25. Extending through this tube |21 is the guide sheathing |29 through ywhich is passed welding wire |33. This wire is fed by the rollers |3| and |32 which are carried on the automatic welding head |39. The tube |21 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to this head |39.

The lower end of the tube |21 is cut away as at |28 on one side through which cut-away portion the sheathing |29 may be extended. Positioned on the lower end of the tube |21 in telescoping relation is a supporting sleeve |34 which is also cut away to provide an outlet for the sheathing |29. This supporting sleeve |34 is provided with the elongated slot |35 through which extends the set screw |36 which threads into the tube 21, and serves as a means for securing the sleeve |34 on the tube |21.

Supported by the sleeve |34 are the arcuate quadrant arms |31 each of which is provided with the arcuate slot |38. This sleeve also serves as a support for the rheostat construction embodying the disk ||1, the housing ||8 and the supporting arm |22. Mounted on the arms |31 by means of the set screws |49 is a mounting block |39 for the welding tip |42 which is locked in position by the lock nut |43.

In the construction shown in Fig. 12 I have i illustrated a method for adjusting the roller shafts and |02 relatively to each other. These shafts project through bearing blocks |46 and |41 which are slidably mounted in the slot |46 formed in the base of the member 98. Each of these bearings is provided with a lug through which extends a threaded screw having the flat faced end |50 resting in the cutaway portion or socket |49. The construction is such that upon a turning of the screw |52 the bearings |46 and |41 may be moved relatively to each other.

In the form shown in Fig. and Fig. 11 I mount a retainer |54 on the member 96 and projecting downwardly from this retainer are lugs |55 through which are threaded the set screws |56 which are adapted to engage the pointed boss |51, extending outwardly from the opposite face of the tracing wheel |58.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the device operating upon a cylindrical body |59. The welding point |33 is in engagement with the edge of this body |59 for welding a cover or bottom thereon. It will be noted that the roller |23 is in contact with the upper surface of this cover |60 and that the welding point is so supported on the quadrant arms |31 as to project angularly to the edge at which the weld is to be made. The templet |06 positioned on the bed 45 would of course be formed the same shape as the contour of the bottom |60. When the motor 10 is set into operation the feed rollers would carry the mechanism mounted on the tracks so that the welding point would travel around the bottom |60. In Fig. 8 I have shown the welding point |33 engaging in a corner formed by the juncture of the work-pieces |6| and |62. It will be noted that the angularity of the welding point is maintained during the entire operation. Should the roller |23 be passing over an uneven surface on the work-piece |63 as shown in Fig. 9 the oscillation or rocking of the member ||9 will effect an operation of the motor 2 thus causing the tube |21 to move upwardly and downwardly so as to maintain the welding point in proper contact with the work-piece operated upon. The flexible sheathing- |29 moves upwardly and downwardly and due to the fact that this is flexible this angularity may be maintained. The raising and lowering of the guide tube is automatic. It is obvious that by loosening the set screws |40 the angularity of the electrode or wire |33 relative to the work-piece may be adjusted to any desired degree within the range of the quadrant supporting arms |31.

By means of the adjustment of the bearingsl |46 and |41 the roller may also be easily and quickly adjusted to templets of various thicknesses.

When it is desired to use the device for tracing purposes, the tracing wheel |58 may be quickly placed in position and the device also used for tracing purposes.

When the motor |10 is set into operation the entire structure including the tracks and table may be raised or lowered as desired. The shaft |1| of the motor |10 extends into a gear box |12 and serves to drive the bevel gear |13. This bevel gear |13 is adapted to mesh with either the bevel gear |14 or the gear |15, both of which are slidably mounted on the shaft |16 and rotate in unison therewith. A yoke |11 may be rocked by means of the shaft |18 and the handle |19 to bring either of the gears 14 or |15 into mesh with the gear |13 and thus effecting a rotation of the shaft |16 in one direction or the other. This shaft |16 is provided with a worm |85 at each end which serves to drive the worm wheels |80 and |80 which are iixedly mounted on the shafts |8| and |8|'. The shafts |8| and |8|' carry at their opposite ends the bevel gears |82, |83, |82 and |83' each of which meshes with a gear |84 fixedly mounted on the members 42, 42', |81 and |88, so that when shaft |16 is rotated, it will rotate shafts |8| and |8|' in a like manner, causing screw shafts 42, 42', |81 and |88 to rotate in unison. Consequently it is seen that by operation of the motor |10 the tracks and the bed 45 may be raised and lowered so as to accomodate the device for operation on work-pieces of various sizes and heights.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the apended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters,Y

Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a thermal metal working'instrumentality; a freely movable tracking mechanism for supporting said instrumentality; a templet for defining the line of operation of said instrumentality; a flexible guide for said instrumentality; means for maintaining said instrumentality at an angle to the work-piece operated upon; and power driven means for raising and lower? ing said instrumentality in conformance with the surface of the work-piece independently of the raising and lowering of the supporting means of said instrumentality.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a thermal metal working member; supporting means for said member; means for maintaining said member inclined angularly to the work-piece operated upon; and power driven means for raising and lowering said member in conformance with the contour of the surface of the work-piece operated upon independently of the movement of said supporting means and without disturbing the angle of inclination of said member.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a thermal metal working member; a templet for defining the line of operation of said member; power means for driving said member along the line of operation; means for maintaining said member inclined to the line of operation; and power driven means for raising and lowering said member in conformance with the contour of the surface of the workpiece operated upon independent of and without interfering with the operation of said driving means.

4. In a device of the class described the combination of a'supporting frame; longitudinally extending tracks on said frame; transversely extending tracks on said frame; a thermal metal working member; means mounted on said tracks and movable longitudinally and transversely of said frame for supporting said member; a templet supporting table; a'templet on said table for determining the line of movement of said member; adjustable means for securing said member at an angle of inclination to the line of operation; means for maintaining said member at said angle during the movement of the same along the line of operation; and means for raising and lowering said member during its movement without aiecting the angle of inclination.

5. In a device of the class described: the combination oi a thermal metal working member; means for supporting said member; a templet supporting table; a templet mounted` on said table; a mechanism engageable with and moveable around said templet; power driven means for moving said mechanism around said templet; means connecting said mechanism with said supporting means for moving in unison with and in the same path as the path of travel of said mechanism; and power driven means moveable upwardly and downwardly during the travel of said mechanism around said templet without interfering with the corresponding movement oi' said supporting means for eflecting a raising and lowering of said member.

6. In a device of the class described: the combination of a thermal metal working member; means for supporting said member; a templet supporting table; a templet mounted on said table; a mechanism engageable with and moveable around said templet; power driven means for moving said mechanism around said templet; means connecting said mechanism with said supporting means (or moving in unison with and in the same pathas the path of travel of said mechanism; power driven means' moveable upwardly and downwardly during the travel of said mechanism around said templet without interfering with the corresponding movement ot said supporting means for effecting a raising and lowering oi' said member; and means engageable with a. Work piece for controlling said last named power driven means.

7. In a device of the class described: a sup- 1 ating said mechanism; means for raising and lowering said metal working member during its movement in response to the action of said mechanism; and means engageable with the surface of a work piece operated upon for controlling' said raising and lowering means.

8. In a device of the class described, a thermal metal working member; a flexible guide tube for said member, said member projecting at one end through said guide tube and extending beyond the same; means engaging the end of said guide tube and movable into various positions for adjusting the angularity of said metal working member relatively to a work piece; means for locking said engaging means in various positions of movement for maintaining a xed angularity of adjustment; and power driven means for raising and lowering said guide tube and said metal working member in unison with each other without affecting the adjusted angularity.

PAUL E. DODGE. 

